Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-02-11
SAVED BY a LETTER.

peal and reversal of verdict. A man had
robbed coach running between Stock
ton and Sonora, concealed the money
(all he could carry) about his person,
sought lodgings not far away, and In
the night had risen, stolen a horse
and struck bee-lins across the country
toward station where he could get
quick transportation to San Francisco,
intending to start home by steamer. He
belonged to Arkansas. In the morning
the horse and rider were missed. A
party started in pursuit, and in twenty
four hours had his horse broken down
and him corralled. He saw his game
was up, and coolly awaited the result.
The party overhauled him at early
dawn.
"Good mornin', stranger"
"GOod norm
"See anything of man about your
size straddled a sorrel mare lookin' a
heap like the one you ride?"
mo, l haven't"
"That's putty good mare O yourn."
Eyes, she's worth a cool five hum
dred, but she's a little winded now; say,
mister, III give you five hundred clean
boot for that one o yourn and stop the
deal"
He was making good bluff, and al
though lie knew that he was recognized
his offer would well pay for the broken
down horse, and he hoped that his
money would save him. He counted
without his host.
"Thats a straight blind o yourn
pard, and it strains us to come in. but
we're thar, and hold you over. You
look a little played out as well as the
mare. If you jist git down and join our
party it'll stretch your legs, and mabbe
you need stretching all over"
He blanched trifle, but obeyed in
logged silence. The pursuers all dis
mounted, and the spokesman approach
ing threw over his head moose, passed
the other end of the rope over the limb
of tree that overshadowed them, and
called the other members Of the party
around him.
The eulprit stood erect; not muscle
quivered.
"Now, pard, is everything ali right? b?
Does it fit your neck according to
Hoyle:"
"All right"
"Have you go. anything to say why
this little picnic shouldn't proceed?'
"Nothin'."
"Have yer got any word to leave to
yer friends? IT. yer have, make it short,
for we've got to break camp inside of
ten minutes"
The stranger raised his eyes from the
ground for the first time and looked his
self-appointed judge and eXecutioners
steadily in the eyes for moment, and
then drawing from his pocket crum-
pied letter, spoke with slight tremor
of voice: "Perhaps you are a better
scholar than be. Ify you just read that
and be kind enough to answer it III tell
you what to say"
The executioner had already passed
the coil of rope to his comrades and they
had drawn it tsut. He took the letter,
and as the party stood around him ready
to run up the culprt at the first signal
he opened il and read aloud:
b, Arkansas, January 10, '56-My Dear
Son James: For long weary months have
waited for news from You since your last kind
letter to your old mother. God bless you
James, and answer my prayer that this letter
may reach you, thanking you for your ever
thoughtful care of me in my old age. l re-
ceived the money, and IL kept me from sore
need. But once more to look into your face
and feel that you were near me would cheer
my old heart more than to possess all the
gold in California. When are you coming
home? You promised me in the spring you
would come back TO me. May God prosper
you and return my dear boy TO my arms be-
fore die. From your loving mother.
He began the letter in a strong, clear
voice, hut before the closing words his
reading was hardly audible and tears
stood in the eyes Of the rough men who
listened breathless to its contents. The
rope had Stacked until it dropped from
the hands Of his comrades, and as the
breath of morning rustled the leaves OF
the trees above them and Gods sunlight
simmered down through the openin 9
boughs, melting their hearts TO pity,
the thoughts of each were busy bring
ing memories Of their own boyhood
days and a mothers loving prayers.
Silence for a few minutes; then rever-
emily folding the soilsd bisof paper, the
reader passed il to its owner, and with
out word slipped the moose from hi:
neck. In tones Us gentle as mother:
asked: "was you going home, stran.
ger?"
eyes"
Goodbye"
The stranger dared not trust his voice
in thanks, but drew from his belt small
bag of twenties and offered it TO the
leader.
"Hoss?"
"No; take her, and-gocd bye"
He mounted the mare aud slowly
moved away. while the party watched
him out of sight; then turned and SLOW.
ly retraced their steps to camp.
The court was adjourned.